Packaged food product with integrated support features

ABSTRACT

Packages for food products and food products packaged in such packages are described. A packaged food product may include a plurality of food items and a package comprising a container removeably coupled to a lid. The container may define an interior configured to receive the plurality of food items. The container can include a bottom portion and opposing first and second sidewalls forming a plurality of support portions configured to support the plurality of food items independent from one another. The support portions each include a support surface extending upward along at least a portion of the first and second sidewalls and across the bottom portion.

This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/699,050 filed on Sep. 10, 2012, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to packages for food products or food items, and more particularly, to packages having integrated support features and packaged food products having packages using such features.

BACKGROUND

There are many challenges associated with providing food product packaging for accommodating multiple food items. Structural integrity considerations as well as visual appearance considerations can be considered, both of which may, at least in part, determine the success of a product with consumers.

Accordingly, various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to improved packaging for food products and similar consumer products.

SUMMARY

One embodiment relates to a packaged food product including a plurality of food items, and a package comprising a container removeably coupled to a lid. The container defines an interior configured to receive the plurality of food items. The container includes a bottom portion and opposing first and second sidewalls forming a plurality of support portions configured to support the plurality of food items independent from one another. The support portions each includes a support surface extending upward along at least a portion of the first and second sidewalls and across the bottom portion.

Another embodiment relates to a package for food products, the package including a top and a container removeably coupled to the top. The container includes a pair of opposing sidewalls, a pair of opposing end walls extending between the opposing sidewalls, and a bottom. The bottom defines a plurality of stepped support portions, each stepped support portion joining with a pair of side support portions extending up the opposing sidewalls. The side support portions are curved along at least a portion of the height of the opposing sidewalls and the side support portions decrease in width along at least a portion of the height of the opposing sidewalls.

Another embodiment related to a packaged food product includes a top and a container releasably coupled to the top. The container defines an interior configured to receive and support a plurality of food products. The container includes a plurality of support surfaces, each support surface configured to support one of the plurality of food products. Each support surface includes a bottom stepped support portion and a pair of side support portions extending up from the bottom stepped support portion. The plurality of support surfaces are configured to orient the plurality of food products within the interior in a shingled fashion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate a packaged food product according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate a package for the packaged food product of FIGS. 1A-1D according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the packaged food product of FIGS. 1A-1D according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the FIGURES generally, various embodiments disclosed herein relate to packaged food products having structural details that both provide for “shingling” of food products within a package (e.g., such that the food products are “tilted”), and suggest an “uprising heat and/or flavor” due to the exterior structure of the package. These features may assist in keeping the food products organized and protected within the package, along with providing an orientation of the packaged food product, which in turn enables quick access to the food product by consumers (e.g., such that a consumer can easily reach into the package and remove, e.g., a sandwich, etc.).

Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D, a packaged food product 10 is shown according to an exemplary embodiment, and includes a number of food products 12 provided within a package 14. Packaged food product 10 may be a non-refrigerated, refrigerated, or frozen product, and may include a variety of different food products 12, including, but not limited to, sandwiches, bagels, meat products, bread products, combinations thereof, etc. All such applications are to be understood to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

According to an exemplary embodiment, package 14 includes a container 16 (e.g., a tub, base, bottom or lower portion, receptacle, etc.) that may be coupled to a lid, or top 18 (e.g., a cover, top or upper portion, etc.). The container 16 in FIGS. 1A-1D is illustrated with a cutout 22 to expose the interior of the container 16 as well as the food product 12. Top 18 may be secured to container 16 to secure food products 12 within the interior of the package 14, and may be removed to permit access to the food products 12. An insert, or sleeve 20 (e.g., a v-board, sleeve insert shown in the cutout 22 of FIG. 1B, etc.) may be provided within the interior of the package 14 to provide various graphics, text, labeling, or other information to consumers (e.g., in the case of a transparent container which enables viewing of sleeve 20 through the container). Sleeve 20 may be made of any of a variety of materials, including paper-based products (e.g., paper, cardboard, etc.), polymer-based products, etc., and may take any suitable shape.

With reference to FIGS. 2A-2C, 3A-3C, 4A-4C and 5, an exemplary embodiment of container 16 is formed by first sidewall 24, second sidewall 26, first end wall 28, second end wall 30, and bottom portion 32. A rim or lip 42 (see FIG. 4) may extend around all or a portion of the top of the various sidewalls to facilitate coupling of container 16 to top 18. Container 16 defines an interior that receives the food products 12 and keeps the food products 12 in a predetermined orientation, as discussed in greater detail below. Container 16 may be made of a polymer material by way of a molding process, including injection molding, blow-injection molding, thermoforming, vacuum forming, blow molding, sheet molding, etc.

Bottom 32 forms a lower support surface for the food products, and includes a number of stepped support portions 38, which are formed by the bottom 32 of the container 16 angling upward and then back downward. The stepped support portions 38 can be generally planar or contoured, depending on the embodiment. Extending from each stepped support portion 38 are a pair of side support portions 44 (e.g., wavy, or contoured portions, etc.), such that one side support portion 44 extends along each one of sidewalls 24, 26. Stepped support portion 38 and side support portions 44 collectively form a support surface (e.g., a contoured, wavy, or curved support surface) that extends from stepped support portion 38 and upwards along sidewalls 24, 26. The support surfaces formed by the stepped support portions 38 and the side support portions 44 may be continuous or may include one or more discontinuities (e.g., grooves, ribs, cavities, etc.). Side support portions 44 gradually decrease in width along the height of the sidewalls 24 and 26 (e.g., from bottom to top) until they become flush with the sidewalls. As best illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4C, the exterior contour of exemplary container 16 generally corresponds to the interior contour.

Each stepped support portion 38 and associated pair of side support portions 44 are configured to provide a bottom support for an individual food product, and maintain the food product 12 at a desired orientation, or angle, such that the food products 12 are “shingled” relative to one another within the packaging. Shingling of the food products 12 may be more visibly appealing to consumers, along with facilitating viewing of the food products 12 within the package and removing food products 12 from the packaging. Furthermore, the stepped support portions 38 and associated side support portions 44 provide additional structural rigidity for package 14. In some embodiments, the food products 12 are held loosely in place, such that individual food products 12 may be easily removed from the package 14. For example, as shown in the FIGURES, package 14 includes three stepped support portions 38 and is configured to hold four individual food products 12. It should be noted that the food products 12 may be individually packaged with separate packagings to maintain freshness, etc. Furthermore, according to various exemplary embodiments, the space between the stepped support portions 38, the “height” of the stepped support portions 38, and the number of stepped support portions 38 may be varied to accommodate a particular food product 12 and/or packaging configuration.

According to an exemplary embodiment, side support portions 44 are generally symmetric relative to the length of package 14, and form waves, or curved surfaces. In one embodiment, only a portion 36 (see FIGS. 4A and 5) of side support portions 44 actually touches, or supports, the food product 12. The wave, or curve of the side support portions 44 may provide consumers with a sense of “uprising” heat, flavor, etc. According to various alternative embodiments, shapes other than those shown in the FIGURES may be used for side support portions 44. For example, in some embodiments, the side support portions 44 may take other shapes, including forming a relatively flat/planar surface, etc.

According to an exemplary embodiment, top 18 may include one or more indents/detents that form a top detail that has a corresponding shape to the bottom 32 of container 16. As such, multiple packages 14 may be stacked securely on top of one another. In one embodiment, top 18 is a thermoformed lid made of a transparent thermoplastic material and may be any suitable color (e.g., red, etc.). Providing a transparent lid permits viewing of food products 12 within package 14 and permits additional labels to be used on the inner surface of the top 18 if desired.

Top 18 may engage container 16 in any conventional manner, such as by way of a snap-fit provided by corresponding/interlocking structural features. In some embodiments, after placing sleeve 20 into place, food products 12 may be placed into the package, and an additional seal material may be applied around the top/container interface for product tamper resistance or to hold gases within the packaging should the packaging be a modified atmosphere package (MAP). In some embodiments one or more pads (e.g., a cushion, absorbent member, etc.) may be provided integrating with or separate from sleeve 20, and may be positioned in the bottom 32 of the package 14 to support the food products 12, absorb excess moisture, provide visual consumer information (e.g., text, graphics, etc.), etc.

It should be noted that the various embodiments of the packaged food product disclosed herein may provide benefits over more traditional packagings. For example, the stepped support portions of the package creates “pockets” within the package that contain the individual food products, making viewing removal of food products easier than in many conventional packages. Furthermore, the contoured shapes of the packaging may provide a more visually appealing appearance, suggesting “uprising heat and/or flavor” to consumers. Further yet, the packaged food products are stackable, and the transparency of the package permits use of an inner sleeve, or insert, which can include a variety of information for consumers.

It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the packaged food products and/or methods as shown in the exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the various embodiments. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and/or omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A packaged food product comprising: a plurality of food items; and a package comprising a container removeably coupled to a lid, the container defining an interior configured to receive the plurality of food items, the container comprising a bottom portion and opposing first and second sidewalls forming a plurality of support portions configured to support the plurality of food items independent from one another, wherein the support portions each comprises a support surface extending upward along at least a portion of the first and second sidewalls and across the bottom portion.
 2. The product of claim 1, wherein the support surface of each support portion comprises a curved portion.
 3. The product of claim 2, wherein the curved portion extends along the first and second sidewalls.
 4. The product of claim 3, wherein the support surface of each support portion comprises a lower generally planar portion.
 5. The product of claim 4, wherein the planar portions of the support portions are generally parallel to one another.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the planar portions of the support portions are angled relative to the top of the package such that the plurality of food items are shingled within the interior of the package.
 7. The product of claim 1, wherein the plurality of food items comprise individual packagings.
 8. The product of claim 1, wherein the exterior contour of the container corresponds to the interior contour of the container.
 9. The product of claim 1, wherein the container is a molded container and the support portions are integrally formed as part of the container.
 10. The product of claim 1, further comprising an insert configured to be received within the interior and conform to at least a portion of some of the support portions and be configured to provide visual information to users through the container.
 11. The product of claim 1, wherein a width of each of the support portions decreases along the height of the container.
 12. A package for food products, the package comprising: a top; and a container removeably coupled to the top and comprising a pair of opposing sidewalls, a pair of opposing endwalls extending between the opposing sidewalls, and a bottom; wherein the bottom defines a plurality of stepped support portions, each stepped support portion joining with a pair of side support portions extending up the opposing sidewalls; wherein the side support portions are curved along at least a portion of the height of the opposing sidewalls; and wherein the side support portions decrease in width along at least a portion of the height of the opposing sidewalls.
 13. The package of claim 12, wherein the stepped support portion and the pair of side support portions form a support surface configured to maintain a food product at a non-perpendicular orientation relative to the top within the package
 14. The package of claim 12, wherein each stepped support portion comprises an upward-angled surface.
 15. The package of claim 14, wherein the width of each stepped support portion decreases along the upward angled surface.
 16. A packaged food product comprising: a top; and a container releasably coupled to the top and defining an interior configured to receive and support a plurality of food products, the container comprising a plurality of support surfaces, each support surface configured to support one of the plurality of food products, each support surface comprising a bottom stepped support portion and a pair of side support portions extending up from the bottom stepped support portion; wherein the plurality of support surfaces are configured to orient the plurality of food products within the interior in a shingled fashion. 